Deer and the weather

Deer are just the most magnificent creatures on earth. They're beautiful and shy but have a tendency to be curious. Deer are also the best way to predict when severe weather is on the way. Down here in South Louisiana you won't usually see many deer unless you're in a highly wooded area and even then they can be pretty scarce. With this latest winter storm we've had, the deer seemed to be everywhere, even in places I wouldn't have expected to see them. Over the years I've paid very close attention to the wild life around me, everything from the birds to whatever critters walk across my path. It has never ceased to amaze me how the animals know that bad or unfavorable weather is on the way. I mean let's face it we're human we need the weather men to tell us what to expect from week to week. Anytime I hear that severe weather is on the way I always look for the deer and try to observe their patterns. Back in the mid 90's we had what people down here refer to as the "May Flood" about a week (give or take a few days) the deer were more visible before the flood hit. They were eating whatever they could and moving to higher ground. Little did I know at the time that a flood was coming. that is when I started really paying attention. This last storm was no different. We had had one day of winter weather with ice and some flurries, but I didn't see the deer and it wasn't a real bad cold snap. This week however, the day before the storm was to hit, I was bringing my daughter to school and low and behold I spotted two large does getting ready to dart in front of my truck. The roads were wet and I was probably doing a little over the speed limit. none the less I saw those eyes on the side of the road and, knowing I was going to slide, hit my brakes kinda hard. luckily I had hit my brakes at the right time because as soon as my truck stopped sliding forward the two Huge does that I had seen on the shoulder decided to jog across the road in front of my truck. My daughter and I were glad they safely made it across, otherwise I would've  totaled my truck and cried all day because I injured or killed these two beautiful animals, not to mention that if I had hit them my daughter and I would've been pretty banged up. Everyone was talking about the winter weather to come the next day and everyone was trying to down play the severity or hope it wasn't going to be as bad as the news was saying, but seeing those two does moving to higher ground I knew it was going to be just as bad if not worse and I was right. The schools had shut down for three days, the interstates had closed for two days, and since today is the 4th day we still have ice on our houses. So in conclusion keep an eye on the deer when bad weather is coming.

A little bit about us

Well there's not much to tell about us.My name's Staci I'm 34, I work at the Wild bird center in Covington,la which my parents own and we cater to backyard birds selling feeders, seed, and houses. My fiancé, Sean, is 46 and works on the docks for one of the many chemical plants in Norco,LA. We also have a very talented, very smart, although disagreeable at times, 14 year old daughter, Skylar. When I'm not working I'm usually in the garden or canning whatever I can get my hands on. We're pretty much the typical American family....Pretty much.

Why a Farm?

We decided that a Farm was the only way to go. It's the only way to truly live, but there is actually a couple reasons for the farm. The first is that when you live on a farm in the country you have room to grow and your privacy and security, things you don't normally have in a subdivision. The other is because you can grow and raise whatever you want....we decided on fruit trees to start with. We figure if you grow fruits, veggies, and herbs whatever you can't eat, can, or freeze can be sold for a little extra money. Eventually we will be adding chickens to the farm for eggs only, again what we can't use or eat we can sell. The other reason for the farm is, put simply, I need to keep busy and get back to my roots. I also believe there is no better feeling than being able to grow and harvest your own food.

The beginning of the Sweeney's Farms and Orchards

Sweeney's Farms and Orchards is in it's beginning stages. We purchased  14.6 acres of land in the very small town of Albany, LA in October of 2013. So far we've managed to clear anywhere from 3 to 5 acres and move our mobile home onto the property. For now we are living in Ponchatoula, LA until we have finished getting the mobile home ready to move into, which seems like it's taking forever. The last step in getting onto the property is building a front porch, which will be started on tomorrow. Our Orchard is also in it's beginning stages. Currently we have 2 myers lemon trees, 1 lime tree, 2 blood orange trees, 1 Louisiana sweet orange, 1 Navel orange, 1 pomegranate, and 1 avocado tree along with very young peach trees and cherry trees. All of which are all in pots for another month.